Apparatus for mercerizing, &amp;c.



Ptnted Mar. 2o, |900.

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No. 645,693. Patented Mar, 2o, |900. L. WELDDN. APPARATUS FonMEPcEmzlNG, &c.

(Application med sept. 1s, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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Ninn STATES PATENT Erica.;

`APPARATUS FOR MERCERIZING, 80C.

. SPEIFICATION forming part o'f Letters Patent No. 645,698, dated March20, 1900. Application iled September 18, 1899. Serial No. 730,835. (Nomodel.)

To @ZZ whom it 11i/tty concern:

Be it known that I, LEONARD WELDON, of Amsterdam, in the county ofMontgomery, in the State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Yarn-Dyeing Machines, of which the following, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to yarn-dyeing machines; and the object is toprovide yarn-dyeing machines by which yarn is dyed in skeins and inlarge quantities with means whereby the skeins may be subjected to greattension or a great stretching operation forV the purpose of mercerizingcotton yarn or treating cotton yarn with caustic lye and washes tostrengthen the fibers and increase its luster, Mercerization being wellknown, it will be unnecessary to describe the process atlength.I'Ieretofore the stretching operation necessary in the process couldonly be applied to small quantities of yarn at a time although variousdevices have been used, all of which rendered the process expensive,thereby increasing the cost of the yarn.

To this end my invention consists in the combination, with the dye-tub,of a reel oonstituted by a pair of large wheels fixed on a revolubleshaft, revoluble removable sticks between the outer rims of the wheels,a pair of smaller wheels loosely mounted on the said shaft between thelarge wheels, revoluble removable sticks between the outer rims of thesmall wheels, means to rotate the said reel, gearing mounted on thelarge wheels and adapted to rotate the small wheels relatively to thelarge wheels when the large wheels are rotated, and l suitable meansY toregulate or control said relative movement of the parts; and myinvention consists in certain other combinations of parts hereinafterdescribed, and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed and forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a right-hand side elevation of my improved dyeing-machine.Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of `the machine and somewhatsimplified to more clearly show the construction and designed working ofthe parts, both views having the cover of the tub removed to exhibit thereel or skein-carrying devices.l Fig. 3 is a partial enlarged view ofthe inner sides of the right-hand wheels, showing the gearing mountedthereon; and Fig. 4 isahorizontal central transverse sectional View ofportions of the opposite pairs of wheels on the shaft with a pair ofyarn-sticks between them, taken on line a: fr, Fig. 3.

Referring specifically to the drawings, is the tub, preferably made ofcast-iron and having a curved lower side to correspond to the curvatureof the periphery of the wheels Within.

n A is the shaft for the wheels, journaled in bearings a a, mounted onthe top of the tub. B B are the large Wheels, mounted rigidly upon theshaft near the opposite sides of the .tub and having each, preferably, arim integral with the spokes and provided with gearteeth, preferably onsegments b b, suitably secured upon the periphery of the rim. Thesegments b b, &care in mesh with a pinion c on a shaft d, to the rightof Figs. l and 2 of the drawings. When both large wheels are providedwith toothed' segments, the shaft cl may have a pinion c for each wheel.One end of the shaft d is provided 'with aworm-wheel e, which engages aworm fon the end of a horizontal shaft g, journaled in bearings on oneof the vertical sides of the tub. A pair of driving-pulleys g g' are onthe shaft g for revolving the same in either direction, said pulleyshaving the well-known frictionclutches and sliding means, g foroperating the same on the shaft between the pulleys, suitable levers anda connecting-bar being shown for operating the sliding means.

Mounted loosely upon the shaft A between but near the large wheels are apair of large worm-wheels@ C, said worm-wheels carrying the innercircular series of yarn-sticks, the outer series of yarn-sticks 71,being carried by the large wheels B B. In order that both series ofsticks may be of the same length, the large wheels have each a secondrim B', mounted on angular arms B, preferably integral with the spokesof the wheel. The bearings for the yarn-sticks are mounted and carriedon the inner sides of the rims B of the wheels. The bearings for theyarn-sticks on one of the large wheels are adapted to receive the roundspindles on the ends of the sticks 7i', and the bearings t on theopposite wheel are adapted to receive the square ends- IOO of thesticks. The latter bearings are adapted to be rotated periodically, asusual, and by the usual and well-known means not necessary to bedescribed herein, as this feature forms no part of my present invention.

,j j are the circular rails mounted on the ends of arms projecting fromthe inner sides of the large wheels to prevent the skeins from workinginto the bearings of the sticks.

Each of the large worm-wheels C C is engaged by a worm D on the centralportion of a short shaft D', journaled near its ends in bearings 7c k ona pair of spokes of one of the large wheels B. Each shaft D has a smallworm-wheel E on one end, andvsaid wormwheel is in mesh with a worm AF ona crossshaft F', also journaled in bearings Z Z on the large wheels.worms, has one end projecting through one of the outer or larger wheelsB `and is provided with a pinion Gr on its outer end. This pinion Gengages with a large spur-gear H, loosely journaled on the shaft A'outside the large wheel B or between the same and the side of the tub.The spur-gear H has a large friction-pulley I, preferably cast upon itsside, and a heavy brake consisting of a brake-shoe J, pivoted at itslower end to the side of the tub, and a lever K,provided with acam-facem at its lower pivoted end to engage the shoe to bear on thefriction-pulley, so as to enable the operator to entirely or partiallystop the spur-gear when the rest of the machine is in motion.

The operation is as follows: T-he skeins of yarn y (indicated in severalof the figures of the drawings by broken lines) are placed in position,as usual, upon the two series of yarnsticks h and h. The sticks havingsquare ends are placed in the bearings provided on the rims of the largeor outer wheels and the sticks having only round ends or spindles areplaced in the bearings upon the two wormgears C C. After the series ofbearings are filled with sticks motion is imparted to the reel or to thelarge wheels B B through the segments l) b, pinions c c, shaft d,worm-wheel e, worm f, shaft g, and either of the pulleys g', dependingupon the direction it is desired to revolve the reel. When the reel isrevolved l in the direction of the unfeathered arrow near it, thedirection in which it is moved when stretching the skeins, theright-hand pulley,`

gear H, that are loosely journaled on the shaft A. As soon as thisspur-gear is stopped or sufficiently retarded in its revolution the pinyion G on the cross-shaft E revolves around the spur-gear,thereby drivingthe two worm-gears that rotate the worms D D, that in turn re-L volvethe large worm-wheels C C, carrying the innerseries ofyarn-sticks,revolving them in the opposite direction or relatively to the' Thisshaft F', carrying the two revolution of the large wheels B B. By thisoperation the sticks are forced a greater distance apart, thusstretching the yarn that is upon the sticks. After the tension issufficiently great alkali is entered into the tub or vat for a fewminutes, after which time it is pumped outaud wash-water admitted towash out the alkali. Then acid is admitted to completely neutralize alltrace of the alkali, after which the movement of the reel is reversed bythe movement of the clutch and the brake again applied to remove thestrain from the skeins and to loosen them enough to allow them to beremoved from the machine.

I do not wish to be limited to the precise form of construction hereinshown and described, inasmuch as the shape of the various parts and thestyle of gearing may be varied without departing from my invention.

Having described my invention, what l claim `as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination with the dye-tub, of a shaft, a pair of large wheelson the shaft carrying a series of yarn-sticks, a pair of smaller wheelson the shaft between `the large wheels carrying the second series ofyarn-sticks, and means for revolvingthe said `small wheelssimultaneously in `one direction and relatively to the revolution of thelarge wheels, as set forth.

2. The combination with the dye-tub, of a shaft, a pair of large wheelson the shaft carrying a series of yarn-sticks, a pair of smaller wheelson `the shaft between the large wheels carrying the second series ofyarn-sticks, means for revolving the said small wheels simultaneouslyinone directionwhile the large wheels are rotated in the oppositedirection, and means to arrest'the relative movement of the wheelsduring the continued revolution of said wheels, as set forth.

3. The combination with the dye-tub, of a shaft mounted to turn inbearings on said tub, a .pair of ylarge wheels within the tub and seofyarn-sticks carried by the said Wheels, a pair of smaller wheelslooselymounted on the shaft between the large wheels, a series ofyarn-sticks carried by the small wheels, gearing to rotate the largewheels in one direction, and gearing between the large wheels and theVsmaller wheels for rotating the latter wheels simultaneously andrelatively to the `large wheels, and means to arrest the relativemovement of the wheels during the continued revolution of said wheels inone direction, as set forth.

4. The combination with the dye-tub, of a `shaft mounted to turn inbearingson said tub, a pair of large wheels within the tub and securedto the shaft to turn therewith, aseries of yarn-sticks carried by thesaid wheels, a pair of smaller wheels loosely mounted on the shaftbetween the large wheels, a series of yarn-sticks carried by the smallwheels, gearing to-rotate the large wheels in one direction IOO cured tothe shaft to turn therewith, a series IZO and gearing between the largewheels and the smaller wheels for rotating the latter wheelssimultaneously and relatively to the large wheels, a large spur-gear onthe shaft in mesh with the gearing between the large and small wheels,and suitable braking devices to arrest the rotation of the saidspur-gear to cause the relative movement of the large and small Wheels,substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. The combination with the dye-tub, of a reel constituted by a pair oflarge wheels fixed on a revoluble shaft mounted in bearings on the tub,revoluble removable yarn-sticks between the outer rims of the Wheels, apair of smaller wheels loosely mounted on the said shaft between thelarge wheels, revoluble removable yarn-sticks between the outer rims ofthe small wheels, means to rotate the said reel, gearing mounted on thelarge wheels and adapted to rotate the small wheels relatively to thelarge wheels when the large Wheels are rotated, and suitable means toregulate or control said relative movement of the wheels, substantiallyas described.

6. The combination with the dye-tub, of a shaft mounted to turn inbearings on said tub, a pair of large wheels within the tub and securedto the shaft to turn therewith, a series of yarn-sticks carried by thesaid wheels, a pair of smaller wheels loosely mounted on the shaftbetween the large wheels, a series of yarn-sticks carried by the smallwheels, gearing to rotate the large wheels in either and bothdirections, said smaller wheels having teeth on their peripheries toengage worms, worms on shafts journaled in bearings mounted on the largewheels, worm-gears on the worm-shafts, a cross-shaft having wormsengaging said worm-gears, said cross-shaft also journaled in bearings onthe large wheels, and means to operate the gearing between the twowheels when the large wheels are driven in either direction to cause therelative movement of the large and small wheels, as and for the purposedescribed.

7. The combination with the dye-tub, of a shaft mounted to turn inbearings on said tub, a pair of large wheels within the tub and securedto the shaft to turn therewith, a series of yarn-sticks carried by thesaid wheels, a pair of smaller wheels loosely mounted on the shaftbetween the large wheels, a series of yarn-sticks carried by the smallwheels, gearing to rotate the large wheels in either and bothdirections, said smaller wheels having teeth on their peripheries toengage worms, worms on shafts j ournaled in bearings mounted on thelarge wheels, worm-gears on the worm-shafts, a cross-shaft having wormsengaging said worm-gears, said cross-shaft also journaled in bearings onthe large wheels, a spur-gear loosely mounted on the first-mentionedshaft near one end, a friction-wheel on one side of the said spur-gear,and a brake to engage the friction-wheel, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

8. The combination with the dye-tub, of a shaft mounted to turn inbearings on said tub, a pair of large wheels within the tub and securedto the shaft to turn therewith, a series of yarn-sticks carried bythe'said wheels, a pair of smaller wheels loosely mounted on the shaftbetween the large wheels, a series of yarn-sticks carried by the smallWheels, gearing to rotate the large wheels in either and bothdirections, said smaller wheels having teeth on their peripheries to.engage worms, worms on shafts journaled in bearings mounted on the largewheels, Wormgears on the worm-shafts, a cross-shaft having wormsengaging said worm-gears, said cross-shaft also journaled in bearings onthe large wheels, a spur-gear loosely mounted on the first-mentionedshaft near one end, a friction-wheel on one side of the said spur-gear,-a pivoted brake-shoe to engage the periphery of the friction-wheel,and apivoted lever havinga cam-shaped surface to engage the brake-- shoe,substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. The combination with the dye-tub, of a shaft mounted to turn inbearings on said tub, a pair of large wheels within the tub and securedto the shaft to turn therewith, a series of yarn-sticks carried by thesaid wheels, a pair of smaller wheels loosely mounted on the shaftbetween theI large wheels, a series of yarn-sticks carried by the smallwheels, gearing to rotate the large wheels in either and bothdirections, segments having gearteeth secured on the periphery of one orboth of said large wheels to form part of the gearing to rotate thelarge wheels, said smaller wheels having teeth on their peripheries toengage worms, worms on shafts journaled in bearings mounted on the largewheels,worm gears on the worm-shafts, a cross-shaft hav ing wormsengaging said worm-gears, said cross-shaft also journaled in bearings onthe .large wheels, and means to operate the gearing between the twowheels when the large wheels are dri'venin either direction to cause therelative movement of the large and small wheels, as and for the purposedescribed.

In testimony .whereof I, LEONARD WEL- DON, have hereunto signed my name.

LEONARD wELDoN. [n s] p Witnesses:

. I-I. V. BURKE,

GEORGE G. WALDEON.

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